Question

In my application I’am populating a dropdownlist from database using ADO Entity Framework, after this when i try to submit the form the value of the dropdown list it is giving Null reference exception.

Error Code (in INDEX.ASPX)

<%: Html.DropDownListFor(model => model.race, Model.Races, "--Select--")%>  <--error
<%: Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.race)%>

CONTROLLER (in NewPersonController)

public ActionResult Index()
        {
            Person person= new Person();
            return View(new PersonFormViewModel(person));   
        }


[HttpPost]
public ActionResult Index(Person person)
        {
            if (ModelState.IsValid) //Also not enter the race parameter
            {
                personRepo.Add(person);
                personRepo.Save();
            }
            return View();  // When return the view I get the error
        }

MODEL (in PersonFormViewModel)

public class PersonFormViewModel
    {


        public Person Person        {
            get;
            private set;
        }

        public SelectList Races
        {
            get;
            private set;
        }

        public string race
        {
            get { return Person.race; }
            set { Person.race = value; }
        }


        public PersonFormViewModel(Person person)
        {

            Person = person;
            RaceRepository repository = new RaceRepository();

            IList<Race> racesList= repository.FindRaces().ToList();
            IEnumerable<SelectListItem> selectList =
                from c in racesList
                select new SelectListItem
                {
                    Text = c.race,
                    Value = c.id.ToString()
                };

            Races = new SelectList(selectList, "Value", "Text");   
        }

    }

IN VALIDATION MODEL

[MetadataType(typeof(Person_Validation))]
public partial class Person    {

}

    public class Person_Validation
    {

        [Required(ErrorMessage = "Required race")]
        public string race
        {
            get;
            set;
        }
    }

Can you help me please? Thank you.

Answer 1

In the POST method you have to give the same type of model to the view.

        [HttpPost]
        public ActionResult Index(Person person)
        {
            if (ModelState.IsValid)
            {
                personRepo.Add(person);
                personRepo.Save();
            }
            return View(new PersonFormViewModel(person));
        }